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In the past year, the NCFR Board of Directors has committed itself to pursuing social justice and working to dismantle systemic racism. We thought it would be a good time to reflect on the role of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee (IDC) in the organization, both historically and as we move forward in this important endeavor. In 2008, the board saw a need for the organization to address “the diversity strengths, issues and challenges of NCFR” (Diversity Task Force Charter, 2008). An inclusion and diversity task force was established with 13 appointed members. In 2010 this task force recommended, and the board approved, the establishment of a permanent board committee whose purpose was to enhance NCFR’s attention to issues of diversity and inclusion. Specifically, the IDC’s role is to examine the “programs, activities, policies, publications, and practices” of the organization; to engage the membership in scholarly dialogues regarding diversity; to raise member concerns regarding diversity to the board; and to make recommendations to the board. The IDC was officially established in 2011; the acceptance of the IDC Policies and Procedures and the first election of members occurred in 2013.

From the beginning, the scope of the IDC’s charge was fluid. Other board committees (Elections, Fellows, and Audit) have very clear tasks that they carry out on behalf of the board. However, the IDC was charged with a somewhat amorphous task: advising the board on how to promote inclusiveness and social justice (although the specific language of social justice was not used in the early document) in the organization. Despite this lack of clear structure, the IDC has risen to the challenge. Over the past 8 years, the IDC has been an invaluable board partner in trying to guarantee that all voices be heard and that NCFR operate in ways that are true to our values of equity and respect for diversity, both within our membership and with the families we serve. The IDC has, as part of its charge from the board, held listening sessions at the annual IDC breakfast at the conference, worked to ensure that the annual conference program is representative and respectful of the diversity in families, helped craft board statements on issues important to families, and regularly challenged the board and organization to institute more inclusive policies and practices (e.g., gender-neutral bathrooms, pronoun preferences at the annual conference). Additionally, the IDC has organized many wonderful sessions at the conference on promoting social justice in our teaching, research, and practice.

In reflecting on the critical work that the IDC has undertaken on behalf of the board and NCFR members over the years, we believe that much of that work is now serving as a road map for other entities in the organization, such as sections and focus groups, that are attempting to more actively address issues of systemic racism and social justice themselves. Although it is possible that in past years, other NCFR groups have not felt the need to examine their work in light of how minoritized groups are addressed and treated because “that’s the work of the IDC,” we welcome the shift occurring in the organization that makes this the work of all. One of the many things that is exciting about this shift is that groups in the organization are looking inward to the expertise of their own members to proactively address racism and injustice in the discipline and in the places where we work. In fact, this is the focus of the professional work of many of our members, not just those on the IDC, and it is time to learn from those members and celebrate what they can teach us. This will also provide the IDC the time and space to work on specific tasks on behalf of the board. For example, in working collaboratively on the current racial justice initiative, the board has asked the IDC to vet the material for the racial justice resources page that the NCFR staff is constructing and to make recommendations on strategies for promoting pathways to professional development for family scholars and practitioners of color.

Moving forward, the IDC will continue to be an invaluable asset to the board as a board committee that advises and counsels the board on actions the organization can and should be taking, and that also assists in developing programs and policies designed to ensure that NCFR is a more inclusive and equitable organization. It is also exciting to see this work being complemented throughout the organization by all groups and all members acknowledging their ownership and their role in the goal of social justice, which we all seek.